Red Bank Green

Serving Red Bank and Greater Red Bank, NJ

This time a year ago, Fair Haven was a town divided. The issue? Whether to allow a Dunkin’ coffee shop to fill a vacancy in the River Road strip mall anchored by an Acme supermarket. The back-and-forth on the Fair Haven, NJ Facebook page got so nasty that the moderator shut down commenting on the issue.

Well this week, seven months after the planning board approved the shop, the still-empty retail space got its Dunkin’ sign, and the moderator allowed a resumption of comments. So how’d that go?

Though turns would still be allowed in both directions on River Road, the shopping center’s eastern driveway will be changed to exit-only, under a condition set by the board. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

More than a year after it was proposed, a Dunkin’ coffee shop won approval to operate in Fair Haven Monday night.

The 6-2 planning board vote, shortly before 11 p.m. capped months of passionate debate over traffic safety, a fast-food law that went MIA and the shop’s potential impact on the small-town character of the borough.

With an assist from Councilwoman Susan Sorensen, Betsy Koch, right, takes her seat for the first time as a council member during a meeting held at the Knollwood School, where she’s a teacher. Members of the student council were also on the dais. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Less than a three weeks after a narrow loss at the polls, Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Koch won unanimous appointment to the Fair Haven council Monday.

She replaces Councilman Rowland Wilhelm, who stepped down with two years remaining on his third three-year term.

Two three-year terms on the Fair Haven Borough Council are up for grabs in the November 7 election. On the ballot are four candidates: incumbent Republican Susan Sorensen and her running mate, Betsy Koch; and incumbent Democrat Christopher Rodriguez and his running mate, Jessica Patel.

Here are Koch’s written responses to questions posed to all four candidates recently by redbankgreen.

Two three-year terms on the Fair Haven Borough Council are up for grabs in the November 7 election. On the ballot are four candidates: incumbent Republican Susan Sorensen and her running mate, Betsy Koch; and incumbent Democrat Christopher Rodriguez and his running mate, Jessica Patel.

Here are Patel’s written responses to questions posed to all four candidates recently by redbankgreen.

Two three-year terms on the Fair Haven Borough Council are up for grabs in the November 7 election. On the ballot are four candidates: incumbent Republican Susan Sorensen and her running mate, Betsy Koch; and incumbent Democrat Christopher Rodriguez and his running mate, Jessica Patel.

Here are Rodriguez’s written responses to questions posed to all four candidates recently by redbankgreen.

Two three-year terms on the Fair Haven Borough Council are up for grabs in the November 7 election. On the ballot are four candidates: incumbent Republican Susan Sorensen and her running mate, Betsy Koch; and incumbent Democrat Christopher Rodriguez and his running mate, Jessica Patel.

Here are Sorensen’s written responses to questions posed to all four candidates recently by redbankgreen.

L-R: Former Marines Fred Dispensiere and Joe Perrotto welcome Matthew (Matt) Valko to the Wall of Honor at Knollwood School.

Press release from Fair Haven School District

Recently, Matthew (“Matt”) Valko completed his U.S. Marine Corps boot camp training and headed to the Combat Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. But before that, the native of Fair Haven had another important milestone to address, at the middle school from which he graduated in 2010.

Matt’s photo has now been added to the Knollwood School “Wall of Honor,” featuring graduates who are proudly serving their country in the armed forces. Located prominently in the main hallway of the school, the Wall of Honor was commissioned in 2011 by co-chairs Betsy Koch, an eighth grade science teacher at the school, and Joe Perrotto, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Knollwood School graduate Joseph McGovern Jr.,USMC is pictured with his parents Joseph Sr. and Theresa, after the ceremonial unveiling of his photo on the school’s “Wall of Honor.”

Press release from Fair Haven School District

A ceremony was held on September 26 to honor Joseph (Joe) McGovern Jr., who graduated eighth grade at Knollwood School in Fair Haven in 2012. Joe’s photo has been added to the school’s “Wall of Honor” display featuring graduates who are proudly serving their country in the armed forces.

From left, Joe Perrotto and Denise, Stefani, and Charlie Sciametta at the ceremony marking the unveiling of Anthony Sciametta’s photo (top center) on the Knollwood School “Wall of Honor.”

Press release from Fair Haven School District

Anthony Sciametta, a 2011 graduate of Knollwood School in Fair Haven, has joined the special “ranks” of those commemorated with a photo on the “Wall of Honor.”

Commissioned and designed in 2011 to honor graduates serving their country in the armed forces, the “Wall of Honor” is featured in a main hallway at Knollwood School. Anthony’s photo was unveiled at a ceremony held on the afternoon of December 16.

A 2015 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, where he ran four seasons of Cross Country track and was named Captain of the team as a senior, Anthony received the “U.S. Army Top Future Soldier Award” as Central Jersey’s most outstanding recruit. Anthony enlisted in the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in 2015 during his senior year at RFH, and graduated from Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA on December 11, in the presence of his parents Denise and Charlie and his twin sister Stefani. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, at Fort Drum, NY and traveled there immediately after his graduation.